Microchip helps Dallas Area Couple Find Dog in Wichita Falls

Microchip helps Dallas Area Couple Find Dog in Wichita Falls

<br><br><font size="2"><p>A Grand Prairie woman says she received an early mother's day present when she was reunited with her dog.</p>
<p>She says her pit bull was stolen seven months ago but as Mechell Dixon reports, today, she came face to face with her dog right here in Wichita Falls.</p>
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Linda and Tracy Turner are thrilled to have their six year old pit bull, Scarlet, back at home.

And it's all thanks to a small identifying device called a microchip.

It is a reunion that almost brought Linda and Tracy Turner to tears.

The couple reunited with their six year old pit bull, Scarlet at the City of Wichita Falls Animal Services Center.

"I finally gave up and said I guess the Lord has taken her. I took it as the Lord's taken her from me. I didn't never believe that we'd reunite. I really didn't. I had no hope," says Linda Turner, who is happy she is reunited with her dog.

Her hope became a reality, thanks to her microchip implant.

"It's about the size of a grain of rice and it's implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades and the only information that it carries is a number that is specific to that microchip that is registered with the microchip company," says Nancy Springer, animal care coordinator at the Wichita Falls Animal Services Center.

Animal services officials say Scarlet had been living with a family in Wichita Falls who could no longer care for her and surrendered her Thursday.

Scarlet's microchip allowed her to be returned to the turners.

"Chipping took care of all of our needs because now we have the love back in our life again and we're gonna have all of our dogs chipped," says Tracy Turner, who is happy to be reunited with Scarlet.

Because Scarlet is a friendly, mild-mannered pit bull, the Turners say a friend microchipped her for free.

And it's because of that chip that she's now back with her family.

City animal services officials say of all the animals who come to the center, only about 8% are microchipped.

So, they strongly suggest owners get their dogs microchipped so they'll have a better chance of being found if they're lost.